Dr. Robert Craig

Robert Craig, 69, an environmental scientist, manager and corporate officer for environmental companies in Oak Ridge for nearly 40 years, died Thursday, July 18, at his home.

Robert Craig, 69, an environmental scientist, manager and corporate officer for environmental companies in Oak Ridge for nearly 40 years, died Thursday, July 18, at his home.

Dr. Craig, of Oak Ridge, was born April 22, 1944, in Washington, D.C. He was the son of Glenn Horace Craig and Evelyn May Craig, who predeceased him. His friends remember him as a very involved and concerned scientist, and a man with a big heart.

He was retired from MSE Technology Applications, where he served as Regional Vice President from 2006 to 2012. He came to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Environmental Sciences Division in 1974, where he headed the Environmental Impacts Program.

Dr. Craig was director of the Hazardous Waste Remedial Actions Program (HAZWRAP) from 1984-1994. The program, under his leadership, became a large organization supported by the Department of Energy and Work for Others program that created hundreds of jobs in Oak Ridge.

In 1994, he helped establish M4 Environmental Technology in Oak Ridge and served as Executive Vice President until 1997. He later served as Vice President of OHM Corporation and Senior Vice President of Informatics Corporation.

His community service included serving on the board of directors of the Y-12 Federal Credit Union from 2000 until this year. He was the board’s secretary in 2012. He was named to the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board earlier this year. He was selected to serve on the Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee and chaired the subcommittee’s Public Health Assessment Work Group. In that role, he was commended for his ability to work well with many groups in resolving varied health concerns.

An advocate for economic development in the region, Dr. Craig was chairman of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce from 2001-2003. He served as President of The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge from 2007-2008. He was a member of the East Tennessee Economic Council, and he served on the board of the Willow Place Homeowners Association.

He received a doctorate in ecology from the University of California, Davis, and he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology from there, also.

Dr. Craig is survived by his loving wife, Judy. They celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary earlier this year. He is also survived by two daughters, Kim Moore, of Knoxville, and Cassi Russell, of Oak Ridge; five grandchildren, Alex Stuart, Kayla Stuart, Zach Stuart, Savannah Russell and Sophie Russell; two great-grandchildren, Ly’Ryah Ivy and Kayden Stuart; two sisters, Ruth Smoot and Nancy Chandler; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Emory Valley Center, 715 Emory Valley Road, Oak Ridge or the National Audubon Society.

The family will receive friends Monday, July 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary, with a memorial service to follow at 7 p.m. An online guestbook may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.